Card index



J. A. BEST CARD INDEX June 15, 1937.

Filed 001:. 8, 4 1935 I after: "v.1

Patented June 15, 19 37 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

My present invention relates generally to card indexes and more particularly to index cards so constructed as to promote a useful spreading of cards in a series by a pivoting of the 5 severalcards of that series in front, and at the rear, of a card grasped and shifted at its top edge forwardly or rearwardly as desired.

The spreading of the upper edges of a series of cards in a fan-like manner adjacent to a single card is very desirable on account of' the instan-' taneous and simultaneous exposure of the upper indicia carrying edges of such cards so that instead of exposing the name of a single card, for example, the names of a series of cards are at 5 one time exposed to view and selection. It is thus possible to greatly speed up the work, mistakes are more easily avoided since a desired card may more readily be grasped, and the operation is considerably simplified. 20 I sought to solve the problem in the card included in my Patent Number 1,300,334, granted April 15, 1918 ut careful and repeated tests have disclosed latent disadvantages, mainly due to its lack of the necessary stabilityin practice.

The result of its several structural forms necessarily left a space at the bottom of each card continuous and unbroken across the entire width thereof so that the unvarying tendency of the cards in a spread series was tomove upwardly out of line and in this way not only create an annoyance but frequently to hide other cardsand thus defeat the very purpose for which it was conceived.

According to my present invention, each card is so constructed that it has two spaces adjacent its two side edges providing for the reception of two spaced apart portions of the lower edge of the next adjacent card, and by this means I overcome the disadvantages of the patented structure and provide a structure of cards which in practice accomplishes the desired purpose, is without other disadvantages, and have both lateral and vertical stability in a degree even beyond that of the ordinary plain flat index card. 45 My present improvement further provides a card which has another outstanding advantage over my former card, as well as the ordinary plain flat card, in that it prevents any sticking or adherence of cards in the index. 50 In still another respect the card structure of my former patent has been found undesirable as not lending itself to convenient use in a typewriter, and in this respect my present card is a decided improvement since it can be readily run 55 through a typewriter upon removal from the index for the typing of any additional data which may from time to time become necessary or desirable. n

In the accompanying drawing in which I have illustrated several structural forms of the man- 5 ner in which my present improvements may be exemplified, as well as certain modifications and extensions thereof, 7

Figure 1 is an edge view showing several cards spread or pivoted in a fan-like manner to simulm taneously expose to view the upper edge portions of the front or obverse faces of the several cards.

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of one of the cards of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the folded side extensions projecting to the top of the card.

Figure 4 is another similar view showing a card perforated to facilitate folding of the side extensions.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section through a 7 card showing double side folds.

Figure 6 is a front view showing the inmantion applied to a card holder.

Figure 7 is a rear view showing the invention applied to a card having a top folded extension providing for the reception of indicating members, and

Figure 8 is a vertical section on line 88 of/ Figure '7.

Referring now to these figures, the function of the cards of my'invention is shown in Figure 1, the several lower edges of the cards l0 being shown extending into areas normally occupied by the next adjacent cards when upright, and. by reason of pivotal engagement of the cards with one another at points slightly spaced vertically with respect to said lower edges.

As seen in Figure 2, each card I0 is for the above purpose provided with side extensions ll bent rearwardly upon its reverse-fac'eto form folds along the side edges of the cards, these extensions or folds terminating at their lower edges I2 above the lower edge l3 of card l0 so as to form two side spaces adjacent the lower edge of the card to receive two portions of the lower edge of the next adjacent card in a series whereby to promote pivoting and at the same time defeat. any tendencyof the cards to slip upthe card sufliciently to avoid obstructing of any portion of the front face of the next rearmost card in a pivoted series such as shown in Figure 1, may nevertheless be extended flush with the upper edge of the card as seen in Figure 3, in 5 connection with card l0 having folds I l Furthermore, though preferably free of all connection or adherence with the face of the card upon which they are folded'so the extensions ll may be easily flattened in the plane of the body of the card for ready insertion in a typewriter,

they may be glued, cemented or otherwise secured iiatwise against the card if for any reason this be desirable in an index.

The extensions are preferably creased along the side edges of the cards to permit ready folding thereof without a tendency to spring away from the card to an undesirable extent, but as seen in Figure 4, the extensions I! may be perforated along lines coincident with the side edges of the card IS, the perforations being seen at I1 and permitting more ready'folding of the extensions and more convenient use under some circumstances.

Furthermore, while I have shown a single fold extension at each side of the card which is sufficient to carry into effect the practical advantages of my invention, I may for certain reasons, including greater spreading of the cards in a series, provide a card ll as in Figure 5 with side extensions double folded, the ends is of the extensions 20 being turned beneath the latter and between the same and the body of card i8. It is to be understood, of course, that this proposal may be carried forward by triple folds 38 and even beyond this, if necessary or desirable.

Referring torFigure 6, I have shown a card 2|,

the side extensions 22 of which may be like those of Figure 2. In this instance, however, the card ing forwardly so that the card becomes a holder for holding a record card 23 with its side portions beneath the side folds, flaps or extensions 22 instead of using card 2i as a record card as first contemplated. In fact, several indicia cards, such as card 23, may be so held without interfering in any way with the pivoting functions of the cards used as card holders in the mann thus set forth.

In Figures 7 and 8 I have shown another structural form of card 2| involving a highly valued addition .to the side folds or extensions 25, this addition being in the nature of a fold or extension 26 along either a portion of, or the entire upper edge of, the card 24 so as to present a turned upper edge 21 for the reception of indicating members 28 which may be in the nature of pins having colored heads, as most plainly seen in Figure 8.

The upper extension or fold 26, being of a thickness the same as that of the side folds or extensions 25, may .obviously be used to the advantages listed above, without adding to the overall thickness of the card as a whole, since it need not overlap any portion of the side extensions, 5 and it is equally obvious it may be employed without in any way interfering with the pivoting functions of the cards and is readily usable with either creasedand folded side extensions as in Figure 2, perforated extensions as in Figure 4, 7 and with the card adapted as a card holder, it

is reversed, with the folds or extensions projectbeing understood that the card of Figures "I and 8, used primarily as a record card with names (I index indicia upon its front or obverse face, is equipped with a pocket upon its rear face by reason of the several side and top folds or extensions and fl in which may be carried cards or slips containing additional data or record matter.

It is obvious that the upper fold ll of Figures 7 and 8 may be turned upon either face of the card, that is, rearwardiy or forwardly and that Imayprovidethe cardofFigureBortheother card holders with a recess 2! in its upper edge, if necessary, to form a finger opening whereby a portion of the upper edge of the indicia card or sheet may be directly grasped to raise the same partially for more ready examination of the written matter thereon or for complete removal from the card holder. These and other advantages are all contemplated in connection with my improved card having the spreading features hereinbefore described.

What I claim is: i

1. An index card comprising a body having extensions of, and vertically -along its side edgu, said extensions being folded over upon said body, said extensions terminating at the lower ends thereof above the lower edge of the card to form two widely, laterally separated spaces to receive when used in an index, said folded extensions terminating at their lower edges above the low-v er edge of the card and forming therewith widely, laterally spaced side spaces to receive corresponding side portions of the next adjacent card in an index.

3. An index card comprising a body having extensions of the side edges thereof folded lengthwise over upon said body, said extensions being folded in line with the side edges of the card with their lower edges terminating above the side portions of the lower edge of the card and being free to be flattened out in the plane of the card for the purpose set forth.

4. An index card comprising a body having extensions of the side edges thereof folded lengthwise over upon said body, the line of fold of'said tensions of the side edgu thereof folded overupon said body, and terminating at the upper and lower edges thereof substantially in spaced relation to the upper and lower edges of the card body, and an extension at the upper edge of the card folded over upon the same face of the body thereof as said side extensions and of a width less than the space between the upper edges of the side extensions and the upper edge of the card. JOHN. AUSTIN BEST. 

